Contractors were asked to price six packages as part of three options under consideration by the client, the Transport & Communications Ministry. These are: a single contract for the entire 79.4-kilometre link; two contracts, one for the 45-kilometre stretch from Owaifyah and another for the remainder of the route; or three contracts, for two 30-kilometre portions and one 19.4-kilometre portion. The range of bids was:

Strabag: RO 1.6 million- 6.0 million ($5.1 million-17.7 million);

CCC: RO 2 million-6.9 million ($6.7 million-19.2 million);

Galfar: RO 2.6 million-7.1 million ($4.1 million-15.4 million).

The scope of works calls for construction of a seven-metre-wide carriageway with a link to the existing Muscat-Salalah highway, and protection of the Petroleum Development Omanpipeline over which the road will run. An award is expected in June.